Rather, the difference between our approaches is one of whether we believe that government is the answer. Do we trust that government will solve peak oil + climate change + economic contraction? Do we believe that government will prepare the citizenry in time? In a word: No.

Ms. Salzman, on the other hand, seems to trust quite solidly in our government’s ability to handle these issues. Her belief in government — and its power to create change — goes so far that at two points in the past she personally ran for major public offices.

Within the Transition movement we assert that, at a minimum, preparing for the effects of peak oil + climate change + economic contraction will be a top-down-plus-bottom-up process. Taking that a step further, we aren’t planning to sit around and wait for government to do it for us. We don’t believe that they will take the lead in this matter (for a variety of reasons, some of which Ms. Salzman has already named). In fact, we operate with the understanding that in most cases, our government will likely be a latecomer to the action. It’s up to concerned citizens to get the ball rolling.